On Oct. 21, 1945, the United States Army Military Government in Korea (USAMGIK) established a Police Bureau with Police Departments in each of the provinces. On Sept. 2, 1948, the National Police Bureau was placed under the Ministry of Home Affairs, while the Police Departments were placed under the Provincial Governors. The Korean Police are unique in that they have Combat Police Forces. Many of the Orders and Medals that are available to the Korean Military are also available to the Korean Police.
In 1946, the U.S. Military Government in Korea reported, “The Department of Police has adopted a system of awards for bravery consisting of four citations. The highest award – ‘for gallantry and intrepidity at imminent personal hazard of life and with knowledge of the risk assumed’ – is a cloth decoration containing three white stars on yellow background, to be worn on the lower right sleeve. The other awards are for: ‘Personal combat with an armed opponent in the line of police duty, with an act of extraordinary heroism at imminent risk of life’; ‘personal risk of life in intelligent performance of police duty’; and ‘acts of personal bravery or highly intelligent police work.’” There is no mention of what the other three awards looked like, but it can be assumed that they were probably also a cloth decoration containing a lesser number of stars on a yellow background.1 None of these decorations have come to light. More research is needed.
Korea’s National Police Agency Website with “Additional Background History” (in English)
- Maritime Police Commendation Medals
- Police Achievement and Cooperation Medals
- Police Bereaved Family Medal
- Police Service Medals
Footnotes